Cambridgeshire Police Federation chair Liz Groom has called for more officers on the streets after new figures revealed a 10 per cent increase in crime in the Force area.
Liz said the increase – which was below the national average – was in part due to the end of lockdown measures.
But she said the long-term solution to cutting crime and protecting the public was with more officers.
Liz was speaking after new figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS) revealed crime in Cambridgeshire rose by 10 per cent in the 12 months to June.
The figure is below the national average, with police recorded crime in England and Wales rising by 13 per cent on the previous year.
The ONS figures showed that in Cambridgeshire sexual offences rose by 18 per cent, violence against the person was up by nine per cent, and robbery by 11 per cent, while theft offences rose by 11 per cent and vehicle offences by 15 per cent.
Burglary fell by three per cent, with residential burglary down by two per cent and non-residential burglary by four per cent. Drug offences were down by eight per cent and bicycle theft fell by 22 per cent.
Liz said: “The figures are comparing a period when we were in coronavirus lockdowns and were expected to rise.
“We’ve had some notable success, including around burglary, which is testament to the fantastic work of our members.
“Nevertheless, we’re disappointed to see crime as a whole rising in Cambridgeshire despite those efforts by our members.
“We really need more police officers to support them and to be able to do everything that’s expected of a police force.
“It’s great that the Government is committed through its Uplift Programme to restoring the number of police officers to their pre-austerity levels – but it’s not enough. We need more to keep pace with a growing population.
“And there needs to be a focus on retaining those officers once they’re recruited with better pay and improved working conditions.”